2014 Annual Report

Working with Partners to Conserve Birds and Bird Habitat

The Playa Lakes Joint Venture (PLJV) is a regional partnership of federal and state wildlife agencies, conservation groups and private industry dedicated to conserving bird habitat throughout the western Great Plains — including portions of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. Our mission is to conserve the playas, prairies and landscapes of the western Great Plains through partnerships for the benefit of birds, other wildlife, and people. We provide science-based planning tools, decision support tools and outreach to help habitat managers become more efficient and effective at delivering on-the-ground conservation. Read more about PLJV >>

Help Conserve Playas—In 15 Minutes or Less

We need your help to evaluate the ecological condition of the thousands of playas that dot the western Great Plains. All you need is a few minutes and an internet connection. Over time, many playas have been modified from their natural condition through activities such as excavation, farming, or road development. That's where you come in. We need your help to quickly evaluate thousands of satellite photos, determine whether individual playas have been modified and select the type of modification, if any. Start now >>

Listen to Playa Country Radio

Playa ConservationSupporting more than 200 species of birds and other wildlife, the 80,000 playas in the region are the center of biodiversity on the plains. Their basins are lined with clay soil, which collect and hold water from rainfall and runoff events, creating temporary lakes. Playas are also the primary source of recharge for the Ogallala Aquifer, contributing up to 95% of the overall return of water to the aquifer. However, playas are critically threatened, with many now altered from their natural state.

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Tools to Prioritize Playas

PLJV is developing a Playa Decision Support System (DSS), which will help to maximize the conservation of playas by guiding conservation actions toward and potential negative impacts away from the most ecologically valuable playas. Learn more >>

Download Recharge Publications

If your organization is doing outreach on playa conservation or talking about aquifer recharge to farmers, ranchers, irrigators, and other stakeholders in the western Great Plains, PLJV can help by supplying educational materials. Download publications >>